Poipet ‘flopper’ complaint withdrawn

An immigrant police official said yesterday he will withdraw the complaint he filed against Poipet immigration police officer Chhean Pisith after the latter allegedly fired his weapon at him in April, and said that it was now up to the provincial court if they wanted to pursue the case.

Pisith was widely mocked over a separate case in which he suddenly plunged to the ground in front of a union leader’s near-stationary car last year, later saying that he was run over.

Months later, he allegedly shot his weapon at his superior, Sem Makara, who is the deputy immigration police chief for the Poipet border, leading to the complaint in April.

Yet Makara said yesterday he planned to withdraw his complaint – which led to Pisith being investigated for attempted murder – as he did not want to be involved in a long legal process.

“Now I will briefly tell you that the day after tomorrow I will withdraw the complaint. It is alright and normal what happened, so I do not want to prolong it,” Makara said.

Pisith is believed to have fled the country but the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court issued an warrant for his arrest in May after he failed to show up for two summonses.

Reached yesterday, Investigating Judge Muy Sopheak said only that the investigation would continue given the criminal nature of the charges.

Sith Los, deputy provincial police chief for Banteay Meanchey, said his department had received the arrest warrant in May but have made little progress in finding Pisith.